MANILA—The Philippines is all set to host the International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security (ICWPS) from October 28 to 30, 2024, highlighting the nation’s commitment to help promote, protect and empower women across the globe.

This was announced by top officials of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) and the Department of Budget and Management announced during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Wednesday, October 23.

The three-day conference will feature two high-level panels that will assess the implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda and four thematic discussions on the policy and practical aspects of the WPS agenda’s implementation.

The thematic sessions will delve on the role of women in peace processes, the effective execution of the National Action Plan, financing strategies for WPS initiatives, and the intersection among gender inequities, climate, peace, and security.

There will also be a special forum on multi-stakeholder and cross-regional partnerships, parliamentary roundtable dialogues on advancing the WPS agenda, and 23 confirmed side events, as well as exhibits by local and international institutions and organizations.

According to Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., state representatives and civil society organizations from 73 countries have confirmed their participation to the ICWPS, with 19 ministers expected to attend, including United Nations Deputy Secretary General Amina J. Mohammed.

“The International Conference on Women, Peace and Security will bring together women leaders, peacebuilders, and peace advocates…with the aim of highlighting [women’s] indispensable role in their country’s peace processes,” Galvez explained during the forum.

“Lasting peace for all can only be attained when women are included and given the chance to let their voices be heard,” Galvez stressed, highlighting the vital role of women prime movers in the nation’s peace processes such as the late Atty. Haydee Yorac and Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer.

DBM Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman noted that the ICWPS will be utilized as a platform to encourage international development institutions and the private sector to invest in initiatives that are focused on women, peace, and security.

“‘Yun po ‘yung importanteng ma-impart natin in this conference. That more than anything else, we need the cooperation of the private sector [and] the international community to help us fund these projects and programs,” Pangandaman emphasized.

The peace adviser bared that the upcoming conference “will put more investments in women,” pointing out that pressing issues affecting women and children in the Philippines are now getting more attention from the international community because of the awareness created by the National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (NAPWPS).

The budget secretary revealed that on the second day of the conference, the parliamentary panel will allow local legislators to participate in the discussions, particularly to learn about the laws of other countries that the Philippines can adopt as best practices.

Through these dialogues, Pangandaman said the Philippines will also be able to evaluate the implementation of its NAPWPS, identify gaps in its roll out, and come up with recommendations on how to further improve the plan.

Galvez called on all sectors of society to work together to ensure the empowerment of Filipino women and their meaningful participation in all aspects of peacebuilding.

“Through the inclusion of women in our peace tables, we are strengthening the peace process and ensuring our nation’s overall security and stability,” he underscored.

Pangandaman, for her part, declared that “the Philippines stands ready to facilitate this important discourse and inspire collective efforts that will resonate for generations to come.”

The conference is led by the Philippine government through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).

Other core group members involved in the planning of the three-day conference include the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID), UN Women, and the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR).
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